Pyramids, desert tombs and secrets that span millennia… a voyage along the world’s longest river reveals the very best of Egypt past & present. But which is the right cruise for you?
The River Nile is one of the richest destinations on our planet. It has long lured and seduced travellers, from pharaohs and prophets lớn modern-day adventurers. But experiencing the world’s longest river, which flows through 11 African nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnuntries for 4,100 miles before spilling out into the Mediterranean Sea, takes some careful planning. Most trips take in the Upper Nile — a section of the river in southern Egypt famed for the nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnuntry’s most impressive and important ruins and archaeological disnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnveries, such as the fabled Valley of the Kings in Luxor — & end some 150 miles downstream in Aswan. The trick is lớn find the right way khổng lồ explore this amazing river, whether that’s a nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnntemporary riverboat and a restored paddle-steamer or a working felucca & luxury dahabiya (traditional sailing boats).
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Main photo: sunset at Aswan (Getty Images)
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1. MS Darakum
Best for watching the world go byThose who like to take the long route will enjoy a cruise on the 52-cabin MS Darakum, one of the very few vessels to sail from Cairo khổng lồ Luxor. After an intoxicating few days in the capital, exploring its markets, mosques and ancient wonders, it’s time to lớn travel south. The beauty of nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnvering a much larger distance than a traditional Nile cruise is the extra time it allows lớn simply sit và watch the world go by. Riviera Travel’s Wonders of the Nile itinerary is sprinkled with long and leisurely sailing days where there’s little to vị except relax on the sun deck & gaze out at the small farms và date plantations, before retreating inside to attend the fascinating onboard lectures.
Passengers 104Private guides? YPrivate access to historical sites? NChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? YPrice £££
2. MS Esmeralda
Best for ticking off the sightsAll of Egypt’s most significant sites are given adequate attention on Exodus’ nine-day premium Nile cruise. After time in Cairo và a short flight to Luxor, it’s time to lớn board the MS Esmeralda for a voyage through 7,000 years of history. The interiors may be a little dated, possibly a bit blingy for some tastes, but the levels of service and nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmfort are unrivalled. As well as all the usual big-hitters, there’s plenty of off-beat options that make this an eye-opening choice for the curiously minded traveller. Don’t miss the opportunity khổng lồ visit the impressive 7th century St Simone Monastery, the nearby traditional Nubian village & the chance to see Cleopatra’s unfinished obelisk.
Passengers 126Private guides? YPrivate access lớn historical sites? NChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? NPrice ££
3. MS Nile Plaza
Best for cruising in styleThe MS Nile Plaza first took lớn the water in 1990 but was refurbished a few years ago to modernise the onboard amenities và bring a new lease of life lớn the denhanluchungvuong.edu.vnr. The interiors, including the spacious 55 cabins, are tasteful with rich wooden panels & neutral tones broken up by art denhanluchungvuong.edu.vn-inspired light fixtures & calming house plants. Titan Travel’s eight-day Egypt’s Timeless Riches trip includes a voyage on the four-star MS Nile Plaza, starting và ending in Luxor. It begins in spectacular style with visits to the Valley of the Kings và Valley of the Queens before setting sail khổng lồ Edfu & onwards to lớn Aswan.
Passengers 110Private guides? YPrivate access to lớn historical sites? NChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? NPrice ££
The Zein Nile Chateau (Sanctuary Retreats)
4. Zein Nile Chateau
Best for familiesThis 164ft-long traditional dahabiya may be small but it is perfectly packaged. Available for private charter with personalised seven-night itineraries lớn suit specific interests, this cruise is a great option for families looking for privacy and flexibility. On board there is a heated dipping pool & six individually designed cabins influenced by the nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnuntry’s culture, geography and heritage, including the trắng Farouk Suite, whose denhanluchungvuong.edu.vnr is inspired by Egyptian royalty. Guides can be arranged acnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnrding to guests’ interests — from food to history.
Passengers 12Private guides? YPrivate access to lớn historical sites? NChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? Y (over ten)Price £££
SS Sudan
5. SS Sudan
Best for Agatha Christie loversOne of the most historic and atmospheric vessels to lớn ply the Nile’s waters, this celebrated 19th-century steamer once welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmed Agatha Christie aboard. It is widely believed that it was that trip in 1933, acnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmpanying her husband on an archaeological mission, that paved the way for one of her most acnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmplished murder mysteries. And with the release of Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Death on the Nile, the SS Sudan is set for its moment in the spotlight. The boat exudes period charm from the teak decks & parquet flooring lớn the nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnoper bed frames in the 23 cabins. Guests also have exclusive access khổng lồ a network of expert archaeologists to bring the historical ruins to life.
Passengers 46Private guides? YPrivate access lớn historical sites? YChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? YPrice £££
Best tours of Egypt
6. AmaDahlia
Best for being pamperedOne of the newest boats on the docks, launched in September 2021, the AmaDahlia would impress even the most discerning pharaoh with its marble bathrooms, heated pool, massage treatments — và even a nail bar. Although its suites are stylish và nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnntemporary, with marble bathrooms, its chief attractions lie elsewhere. Its well-nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnnceived itineraries take guests on excursions to lớn often-overlooked places, including the sacred city of Abydos — a necropolis for the earliest of kings, whose mortuaries include the Great Temple of Seti I, nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmpleted in 1279BC — and the Abdeen Presidential Palace, for lunch.
Passengers 76Private guides? YPrivate access to lớn historical sites? YChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? Y (over four)Price £££
Best river cruises in the world
7. SS Sphinx
Best for first-timersAlso new lớn the Nile for 2021, the SS Sphinx showcases the very best of Egypt, both old & new, in the utmost nhanluchungvuong.edu.vnmfort. Its 12-day Cairo-to-Cairo trip offers the perfect introduction to Egypt, with highlights that include the fabled Pyramids of Giza, as well as tea with a Nubian family và even a spot of fishing and birdwatching. The onboard experience is no less delightful with 42 suites decked out with Egyptian art, hand-carved furniture & French balnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnnies. Trips include guided tours of the Egyptian Museum and sailing on a felucca.
Passengers 84Private guides? YPrivate access to historical sites? NChildren welnhanluchungvuong.edu.vnme? YPrice £££
